CUPERTINO, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 31, 2014) - Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU), the world's leading Chinese search engine and developer of award-winning PC, Web and mobile products, today announced that it has become a Gold Member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) as a part of its ongoing commitment to protect the privacy of its users worldwide.

The IAPP created the world's first broad-based credentialing programs in information privacy, and it serves as a comprehensive privacy resource for its members. "We are happy that Baidu has announced a commitment to privacy protection," said J. Trevor Hughes, President and CEO of the IAPP. "We are very proud to welcome Baidu as a Gold Member, and to offer the IAPP's expertise in support of their efforts."

As China's largest search engine, Baidu handles billions of user queries on a daily basis. Many of its products employ cloud technology to provide people with constantly updated dictionaries, virus definition files and real-time translations. "With so much information passing through Baidu's servers, privacy protection is extremely important," said Richard Lee, global marketing director at Baidu's International Business Unit.

"User privacy is an essential part of Baidu's product development process," said Lee. "By joining the IAPP, we can continue to improve in this regard, and reinforce our commitment to privacy across all of our mobile, Web and PC products."

About Baidu

Baidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider and developer of award-winning PC, Web and mobile products. As a technology-based media company, Baidu aims to provide the best and most equitable way for people to find what they are looking for. In addition to serving individual Internet search users, Baidu provides an effective platform for businesses to reach potential customers. Baidu's ADSs trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "BIDU." Currently, ten ADSs represent one Class A ordinary share. http://www.baidu.com

About the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)

The IAPP is a not-for-profit association founded in 2000 with a mission to define, promote and improve the privacy profession globally. The IAPP is committed to providing a forum for privacy professionals to share best practices, track trends, advance privacy management issues, standardize the designations for privacy professionals, and provide education and guidance on opportunities in the field of information privacy. It now has over 15,000 members worldwide. https://www.privacyassociation.org